Connecting Like Paul Revere
I am loving reading the great book The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America by Kostya Kennedy right now. It is providing incredible Revolutionary War history, while at the same time providing a view into the human – Paul Revere. I’ve already blogged once inspired by the book in Leading Like Paul Revere. Why was Revere a successful revolutionary leader? Kennedy wrote, “Revere liked talking to people, he liked making his point known. He liked to feel that his words and actions had consequences, and he liked being an agent of change” (pp. 20)1-202). Let’s see here – if leadership is influence, then Revere had that part figured it.
Kennedy references Malcolm Gladwell’s great book, The Tipping Point. Gladwell referred to Revere as being a “connector.” Kennedy explained that, “Of The most compelling of Gladwell’s conclusions—conclusions that he came to in part by drawing parallels to other instances of messages being conveyed by word of mouth—is that Revere succeeded in large part due to his social manner, the ease with which he interacted with other people” (p. 201). I call this being an aware communicator.
Kennedy brought out a great point about Revere, saying, “Revere not only knew many people along his route, Isaac Hall among them, he also had the demeanor to size up and engage a new person, Martin Herrick as an example, and press upon the person the news” (p. 201). Revere’s abilities allowed him to spread crucial information about the British approaching, bridging various communities and ensuring that others were informed and motivated to take action. His extensive network helped facilitate communication among disparate groups, emphasizing how vital interpersonal connections can be in mobilizing collective action and creating social movements.
Gladwell’s reference to Paul Revere as a “connector” illustrated his role in the American Revolution and the social dynamics that contributed to significant historical changes. Connectors are people who have a wide circle of acquaintances and are skilled at linking different social groups together.
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